We are up bright and early for the pit walk. The Canadian Grand Prix opens the pit walk to the city for free. Normally, you would to buy some high-end ticket to get a pit walk on Thursdays.
The hotel breakfast is included in the rate. There was a fine assortment of pastries, breads, cheeses, and fruits. It wasn't the best hotel buffet I've seen, but it wasn't the worst. The coffee was very good.
Off we go to the Metro along with all the other people headed to work. People in Montreal walk very fast. We find the entrance and ask the man in the booth for a ticket in broken French. He very kindly tells us in English to use the ticket machine. End of our French attempts. Frank has a bit of trouble with the machine and the man comes out to help us. We hate being lame tourists!! Press the English button!
The Montreal Metro is very nice and the ride to the track was very easy. Signs pointed the way. Actually, all you had to do was follow men in hats with backpacks.
Signs in the Metro Point the Way
Exiting the Metro, we were hit with loud music and souvenier booths. We just followed the masses and eventually saw the bridge to the track. We had to wait in line for quite a long time and it eventually began to rain. We had umbrellas that helped, but we still got wet. The bridge was lined with flags featuring all the F1 drivers. So many people! If it's this bad for the pit walk, what will it be like on Sunday?
Waiting on the Bridge
The Biosphere Dominated the View
View off the Other Side of the Bridge
Alonso's Flag
We finally make it to the track and discover that the line was for the buses, which are right on the track! Riding the bus on the track to the pits was pretty cool. We get off and immediately are hit with another line. We queue up without even asking. We wait quite a long time and I leave to ask someone what we are waiting for. "The Pilots," says one man. I also see a guy with a TV camera. OK, I figure it will be whomever they can get, which means the drivers lower down the ranking, so we bail. (I find out later that the Ferrari team showed up. Damn.)
Note to future attenedees of the Canadian Grand Prix Pit Walk: Buy a program on your way in, get in that line, and get the autographs of whomever shows up. The drivers arrived later, closer to the end of the morning. We were too early.
The Line to Meet The Drivers
The garages are next. I cannot believe we are so close. The first garages are for Red Bull as they were 1st in the Constructor points last year. Next is Ferrari, and then McClaren. There are so many people around the barrier that I can't get good pictures.
Me at the Exit From Pit Lane
Red Bull
Red Bull Command Center - smaller than I expected
Ferrari Hat Guy
Our Guy
Ferrari's Tires
Ferrari's Noses
Ferrari Command Center
View from the Pit Wall
As we stroll down pit lane, the crowds thin out as not so many people are interested in the other cars, so I get some good pictures. Suddenly, a car starts up and people just rush toward the sound thinking maybe a driver is there. No luck.
Love Rubens
No Crowds Here
No Crowds Here Either
Frank is getting anxious about picking up our tickets and wants to head back. The last photo op was of the safety car. We didn't realize at the time how much we would see this car on Sunday.
Safety Car
Safety Car
The bus picks us up at the entrance to pit lane and drives us around the hairpin so we get to see where we'll be sitting. Asked a few people where to pick up our tickets and it was pretty easy. We ordered the tickets through Formula 1 and it was the first time that we weren't mailed our tickets, so I was pretty anxious about it. They were gracious and let us pick up our tickets early and the packet contained lanyards, ticket wallets, and ear plugs. Very nice.
Leaving Pit Lane
Bus Waiting At the Entrance to Pit Lane
Turn at Entrance to the Pits
We saw this when we watched the replay of the race on TV
The plans for the afternoon were to stroll Old Montreal, but first we needed lunch. Jardin Nelson is supposed to have live jazz most evenings, so I wanted to check it out. We were seated on the front patio and had a nice lunch, but there was no music and few customers. I kept seeing people go by the reception desk and head into the back of the restaurant. Not sure why we were seated up front. The menu was mostly crepes, which I can't eat, so Frank had a crepe and I had a pork salad. Both dishes were very good, not great, but very good. I would come here again.
We Ate on the Front Patio
Frank is Happy to be Sitting
After lunch, while Frank visited les toilettes, I asked the hostess about the live jazz. "It's in the back." I walked down the pathway and there is another reception area. The place is packed and a trio is playing. I felt pretty stupid. for going to the wrong reception area.
Reception Desk We Should Have Stopped At
Back Patio Where We Didn't Eat
The restaurant is on Place Jacques-Cartier, which is a very busy street. Lots of restaurants and shops. I'm sure it's buzzing at night. We never made it back to see, but we will next time.
Place Jacques-Cartier
Even though we are tired and still a little wet from the morning rain, we stroll around the area, stopping for maple gelato on Rue de la Commune. The stree has a lot of restaurants and tacky souvenier shops.
Surprise Sculture on Rue de la Commune
We head toward the Old Port next, walking by the Science Center. Fatigue is setting in and we decide to head back to the hotel, stopping by Marche Bonsecours, which turns out to be very disappointing. We happen upon a secret garden behind the Musee du Chateau Ramezay. From the street all you see is a very high stone wall. When you go through the opening in the wall, you are hit with all this beauty.
Frank is Ready to Go
Turning on Rue Notre Dame, I spy the Hotel de Ville, which has a gorgeous copper roof. Next is the Vieux Palais de Justice, which as a lovely courtyard.
Hotel de Ville (City Hall)
Palais de Justice Courtyard
View From the Back of the Courtyard
A Really Old Building That Now Houses a Starbucks
We decided to go to the Rue Crescent festival to see Petrov signing autographs. He held up Alonso last year and blew his chance for the Championship. I wanted to punch him, but I took a photo instead. I felt a little sorry for him because there was a soiree that the other drivers were going to and he wasn't. And, since the tickets cost $1000 per person, we weren't going either.
My feet were rubbed raw from walking in wet shoes all day, so I bandaged up and we headed out for a short Metro ride and walk to Rue Crescent..
Rue Cresent Festival
Petrov Signing Autographs
Ladies Were Passing Out Goodies
Guy Learning How to Change a Tire on an Indy Car
Not So Easy Is It?
More Race Cars
International Man of Mystery
You Could Sit In This Car For a Photo (Frank wouldn't do it)
We decided to walk around a bit and found the Complexe Desjardins, which was still open. Not in a shopping mood, but we did discover the underground city and walked through the tunnels to the Metro. We got off at a different station and saw another F1 billboard.
Montreal Underground
F1 Billboard
Back to the hotel for our afternoon break. We can't do as much as we used to be able to do. After a sufficient rest, we headed out for our cocktail hour, but this time we decided to try some of the area hotels. The Intercontinental is one hotel that is frequently offered for group tours, so we stopped there. The hotel bar was full of people and they were playing Formula 1 stuff on the TV.
I had cancelled our reservations at DNA, and we decided to try Boris Bistro on the recommendation of the bartender. Because it felt like rain, we sat inside instead of on the patio. The ambiance was truly a bistro - very warm and friendly.
Boris Bistro Inside
I started with Salad of endives, beets, walnuts and blue cheese, which was just OK. Frank had Nem of foie gras with cider vinegar reduction, which was basically an egg roll. Not impressed. For our entrees, I had Braised rabbitt, creamy polenta with lardons, which was very good because I think they made the polenta with lard and the bacon didn't hurt. The rabbit was a bit plain, but when you mixed it with the polenta became quite good. Frank had the rack of veal with early greens. He won that night. We ended with a plate of local cheeses to finish our bottle of red wine.
What a full day! We walked back to our hotel, which takes us by the Hotel St. James. There is a Ferrari flag flying. I know the team is in there. Wow.
Hotel St. James
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